“We recognise and acknowledge that there are many peers, both past and present, who have contributed in their own way to the success and reputation of our industries, be it through design, a manufacturing or boatbuilding business, or their unique skill in craftsmanship. Many of us have been a part of these businesses’ journeys and feel we have contributed to their, and our own, successes along the way,” says Chris van der Hor, CEO of MAST Academy New Zealand.
lHe adds that like all journeys, it generally starts with the opportunity an employer first gave through a job that led to an apprenticeship at the beginning of one’s working life. The workplace trainer is often the first person the new apprentice or trainees interact with. These first interactions are critical and often determine how well a new apprentice or trainee performs and fits into a company.Â
It is these trainers and mentors that are the real unsung and sometimes forgotten champions of the industry that MAST Academy (formally NZ Marine & Composites ITO) wish to recognise through their Workplace Trainer Certificate, in our quest to develop the next generation of talent and craftspeople which the industry sorely needs now and for future growth.Â
New Zealand hosts the largest marine apprenticeship programme globally. This responsibility falls to MAST Academy, a government-recognised private training company that works with some 250+ businesses across New Zealand in various trades and professions in the marine composites and marina sectors. All the businesses we deal with have experienced and qualified tradespeople and professionals who also undertake the responsibility to act as the workplace trainer and mentor to the apprentice(s) in the business. Â
To support them, MAST Academy has developed an e-Learning Skillpod to equip current and future workplace trainers involved in any employer-led training programmes, such as apprenticeships, with the necessary key skills to be effective trainers and mentors within their sphere of influence to their colleagues and the workplace learners.
“By offering this eLearning training module leading to an industry-endorsed Workplace Trainer Certificate, we acknowledge the important role these key people play within the training environment and their contribution to ensuring each graduate succeeds”, says van der Hor.
It also allows MAST Academy Field Officers to work more closely with the company in achieving these outcomes, which has many benefits for the learner, employer, and industry.
For every Workplace Trainer who completes the accredited training, MAST Academy will acknowledge this by issuing a certificate and publishing their names and companies in their publications and media channels.Â
